The aid package, which could climb into the billions of dollars, is still being developed

The Trump administration is seeking to blunt domestic opposition to its trade policies with a relief package for farmers affected by the U.S. trade spat with China, say officials involved in the discussions.

.. Agriculture and congressional officials are examining Depression-era programs like the Commodity Credit Corp., which was created in 1933 to stabilize farm incomes, and which permits borrowing of as much as $30 billion from the Treasury to finance its activities. Using the CCC would also give the administration an existing program to tap, rather than having to devise something new that would need to clear Congress.

.. Many farm groups say they aren’t looking for a handout and would rather have unimpeded trade with China. “Farmers are more interested in negotiation (with China) than mitigation,” said Davie Stephens, vice president of the American Soybean Association and a farmer who raises crops near Clinton, Ky. “Let’s get an agreement where tariffs don’t have to be implemented.